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iVAR REGISTRATION DAY 

AND 



THE NEW IDEALISM 



BY 



GEORGE WILLIS PATTERSON 



W 



E DID not set this Government up in 
order that we might have a selfish and 
separate liberty, for we are now ready * * * 
to fight out upon the fields of the world the 
cause of human liberty." — Woodrou) Wilson 



11570 

,? 



COPYRIGHTED 1917 

BY 

GEORGE WILLIS PATTERSON 



m - L.7 



■QCIA468432 



WAR REGISTRATION DAY AND THE 
NEW IDEALISM 

By 

George Willis Patterson 

I 

Birthday of larger life to all mankind, 
As we to all bring aid that would attain 
The difficult Rights our fathers died to gain. 

Democracy was then upon the wind 

A musical word, a vision of the mind, 

An ardent dream which men had dreamt in vain. 
While priest and princes forged a pitiless chain ; 

But seers gave weapons to the meek and blind: — 

And on a chartless shore, across the sea 

From thrones and tyranny, our fathers built 
A brave Republic; saintly blood was spilt 

Ere resolute men, whose faith had made them free, 

The dream achieved of true Democracy. — 

But Freedom's foes we strike, or share their 
guilt! 

II 

The Stars and Stripes, without a stain 
As Freedom's symbol, yet shall wear 
A brighter glory if we dare 
Our splendid duty and secure 
To nations, high of heart and pure, 
The Rights our fathers dared attain. 



The Stars and Stripes must take their place 
In mortal story as the sign 
Of love unselfish and divine, 
If yet to lands not ours we give 
The liberties by which men live, 
And share our heritage with the race. 

But lo, if Freedom's Flag, unfurled 
Afar, without aggressive aim, 
Kindles the heart to holy flame, — 
Emblem of brotherhood, since we 
Would smite all bonds 'till all are free, — 
Democracy shall save the world! 

Ill 

Our President, whose faith in durable peace 
Is faith in wide democracy, uprose 
To God's occasion: — and against the foes 

Of universal weal his words release 

The forces of ripe freedom. When shall cease 
The war on which his spirit doth impose 
A moral splendor it did not disclose 

'Till he adventured, there should be increase 

Of liberty — unless WE fail in might, 

No longer mastered by the magical dreams 

Which made our sires the soldier-saints of light. 
The Banner of Democracy now gleams 

With promise for all peoples, nobly sent 

To stricken Europe by our President! 



IV 

Idealist of iron will, 

Whose dream is peace, whose deed is war, 
May battling legions hold in awe 

Thy vision and thy faith fulfill! 

Far mightier than sword or spear, 
Thy pen hath published a decree 
That bids men fight to make men free. 

And clouded issues now are clear. 

The world-wide war by thee defined. 
And charged by thee with purer aim, 
Seals up the scroll of earlier shame. 

And strives to liberate mankind. 

But when the thunderblast shall cease 
Of cannon and rapt silence fall, 
Thy hand will justice mete to all, 

Thy hand will then establish peace. 

America bears across the sea 

The Flag of Freedom, since thy word 
Hath dedicated soul and sword 

To shield world-wide democracy! 



V 

The New Idealism calls 

For more than service to the State! — 
No enemy is at our gate; 

Secure at home, to France we send 
Our sons her alters to defend: — 
Divine the duty which enthralls! 

Awake! America. — The heart 

With love of country nerves the hand 
Ere foes invade our native land: — 
But now must every bosom thrill 
To brotherhood, and so fulfill 
In Freedom's cause the finer part. 

The harder task of sacrifice 
On altars of another's weal! 
But France accepted the appeal 
Of altruism when was shed 
Her blood where erst our fathers bled 
France calls! America, arise! 

The New Idealism seems 

Strange madness to a selfish type 
Of statecraft: — but the time is ripe 
For thrones to crumble; princes fail 
To see that Demos must prevail, 
And blindly hug despotic dreams. 



The passion of Democracy 

His heart prepares whom happy Fate 
Elects to fashion issues great: — 
In spiritual force without a peer, 
And with the vision of the seer, 
His faith foredooms Autocracy. 

'Tis said, the Son of Man returns: — 
Time's Liberator well might lead 
Our legions on His milk-white steed. 
When moving to the firm defence 
Of sacred Rights from violence. 
While Freedom's Banner o'er them burns! 

VI 

Selected Soldiers of the State, imbued 
With valor, love of Freedom, hardy joy 
In things heroic; eager to employ 

Young energy in martial action rude, — 

Let nothing mean upon the soul intrude! 
All discipline embrace that must destroy 
The laxities of peace; without alloy 

Of baseness keep thy dedicated mood. 

Aye, Volunteers in heart! — The Cause is great; 
The Duty is sublime. The highest thing, 
By man achieved, if rightly poets sing. 

Is LIBERTY, which Autocratic Hate 

Would put in bonds and basely violate: — 

The God of Freedom guard you 'neath His wing ! 



VII 

Though terrible is war, more awful still 

Would be a people selfish, chained to fears; 

Who, lacking fire of soul and force of will, 
Have lost the living faith in large ideas 

Which made heroic fathers, hating ill, 
And should their children mould to be their peers. 

Our people do we trust. We have not heard 
Their pledge, nor boast; they, rather, bide the 
time 
Of action when, by great ideals stirred. 

Their deed shall make the spoken truth sublime ; 
Our Oracles once more a flaming word. — 

Heights yet unwon shall Freedom with them 
climb ! 

Give place to silence ere the sun hath set 
On this most pregnant Day ! Names written now 

With ink on paper shall, anon, be met 

In brave memorial bronze: when soldier-vow 

In blood is sealed, these Names will then be wet 
By tears half-proud, pain furrowed on the brow. 

In high resolve they register today, 

Whose fame shall fill with music peaceful 
years, — 
Which come, as violets come, to take away 

The memory of wrath and pain and tears, 
Where heroes fell in bitter, brutal fray. — 

Without eclipse now Freedom's sun appears! 



FLAG OF THE NATIONS 



The Flag was hung in such a way 

That the soldier saw it where he lay, 

His wistful eyes on the window pane 

As it fluttered from sight and back again. 

Leaning to listen, beside the bed, 

I heard what the dying soldier said: 

He spake to the Flag and not to me, 

And his words had the wisdom of prophecy. 

Flag of the Nations o'er the sea. 
Soon will the Stars and Stripes yet be, 
If the truth we give that makes men free ! 

If we give ideals that make us great, 
Our liberties of church and State, 
And loyal love in lieu of hate. 

If we give not merely stintless gold; 
But that which alone the heart can hold, 
And not stay selfish and not wax cold. 

Not lust do we give that slowly sears. 

And dries the font of piteous tears, 

'Till the soul is dead when Death appears. 



But noble aims that are ne'er the grave 
Of the souls that in their waters lave; 
Whose loss leaves poor, what else men save. 

Flag of the Nations! — not that we 
Seek possessions over the sea, 
Binding the world to our decree. 

Flag of the Nations! — welcome sign 
Of brotherhood, which pours the wine 
Of help unselfish 'till glad eyes shine. 

The Flag we draped upon the bier 

Of the soldier-bard, the soldier-seer. 

Who dreamed that the Stars and Stripes would be 

The spirit's Flag on shore or sea, — 

Dear to the chainless soul and mind, 

''Freedom" its word on every wind; 

Flag of one people, — yet of all, 

For the truth we teach holds the heart in thrall! 



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